Combination system and copy error preventing method thereof

ABSTRACT

A combo system and method having a play unit to play a signal recorded on a first recording medium and a recording unit to record the signal played by the play unit on a second recording medium. A detector detects whether a predetermined copy preventing signal exists within the signal played by the play unit. A controller controls the recording unit to stop a recording operation of the recording unit when the copy preventing signal is detected by the detector.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of copending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/145,027, filed May 15, 2002, the disclosure of which isherein incorporated by reference. This application claims the benefit ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/145,027, filed May 15, 2002. Thisapplication claims the benefit of Korean Application No. 2001-27273,filed May 18, 2001, in the Korean Patent Office, the disclosure of whichis incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a combination system and a copy errorpreventing method thereof, and more particularly, to a combinationsystem and a copy error preventing method thereof in which a copypreventing signal is added to a copy signal so that a copy error can beprevented from occurring.

2. Description of the Related Art

A combination system or combo system is defined as two or more differentunits incorporated into a combined system. As an example of the combosystem, there is provided a DVDP/VCR combo system developed tocompositively perform a function of a DVDP and a function of a VCR.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a conventional DVDP/VCR combosystem 10 and peripheral devices connected to the DVDP/VCR combo system.The DVDP/VCR combo system 10 includes a VCR 11 and a DVDP 12. The VCR 11performs a general VCR function that plays video and audio signalsrecorded on a magnetic tape and records externally received signals onthe magnetic tape. The DVDP 12 performs a general DVDP function thatplays video and audio signals recorded on a DVD. In addition toessential functions of the VCR 11 and the DVDP 12, the DVDP/VCR combosystem 10 has an advantage in that the DVDP/VCR combo system 10 canperform a composite function that records video and audio signals playedby the DVDP 12 on the magnetic tap through the VCR 11.

ATV 23 is connected to the DVDP/VCR combo system 10 as a peripheraldevice that outputs video and audio signals played by the DVDP 12 or theVCR 11. Also, an audio amplifier 21 is connected to the DVDP/VCR combosystem 10 as a peripheral device that outputs audio signals played bythe DVDP 12. Furthermore, an external device 25 such as a camcorder canbe connected to the DVDP/VCR combo system 10. The DVDP/VCR combo system10 serves to record/play video and audio signals from the externaldevice 25.

The VCR 11 and the DVDP 12 in the DVDP/VCR combo system 10 are providedas one system in appearance. A user can switch a mode between the VCR 11and the DVDP 12 through either a separate input unit such as a remotecontroller 15 or a panel (not shown) provided on a front surface of theDVDP/VCR combo system 10 and can manipulate individual functions of therespective devices 11 and 12 using the separate input unit. As describedabove, the DVDP/VCR combo system 10 has an advantage in that the systemcan perform various functions without the peripheral devices.

However, in a case where video and audio signals played by the DVDP 12are recorded on the magnetic tape through the VCR 11, a problem arisesin that desired video and audio signals cannot be recorded. The reasonfor the problem is because DVD data has a copy preventing mechanism suchas a macrovision protection (hereinafter, referred to as “macrovisionsignal”). The macrovision protection is an analog protection system. TheVCR 11 adds a vertical blanking signal AGC pulse and a color bar to acomposite video signal and s-video signal. In this case, a synchronizingand automatic recording level circuit in the VCR 11 may be disordered orthere may be something wrong with a line doubler. In other words, in acase where the DVD data having a macrovision protection is recorded orcopied, phenomena such as a color bar, distortion, rolling, blackening,and brightness circulation may occur. Accordingly, in the case where thedata recorded on the DVD having the macrovision protection is recordedor copied on the magnetic tape using the DVDP/VCR the combo system 10, aproblem arises in that the data cannot be normally recorded or copied onthe magnetic tape due to the macrovision protection of the DVD.

Furthermore, in the case where the magnetic tape is played in which thedata is not normally recorded or copied, the user cannot view a desiredvideo image. In this case, the user may incorrectly believe that thereis something wrong with the recording function of the DVDP/VCR combosystem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide acombination system and an error preventing method thereof, in whichwhether a macrovision protection has been applied to DVD data isdetected, so that a copy error can be prevented from occurring.

To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention may beaccomplished by providing a combination system and an error preventingmethod thereof, in which a user can recognize that a macrovisionprotection is applied to DVD data to be copied, so that performance ofthe combination system can be improved.

In order to achieve the above-described object and other objects of thepresent invention, there is provided a combo system provided having aplay unit to play a signal recorded on a first recording medium and arecording unit to record the signal played by the play unit on a secondrecording medium, including: a detector to detect whether apredetermined copy preventing signal exists within the signal played bythe play unit; and a controller to control the recording unit to stop arecording operation of the recording unit when the copy preventingsignal is detected by the detector.

Here, the combination system further includes a display block toexternally display a signal indicative of whether the copy preventingsignal has been detected.

To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention may beaccomplished by providing a copy error preventing method of a combosystem provided with a play unit and a recording unit, including:playing a signal recorded on a first recording medium using the playunit; recording the signal onto a second recording medium using therecording unit; detecting whether a predetermined copy preventing signalexists within the signal played by the play unit; and stopping arecording operation of the recording unit when the copy preventingsignal is detected within the played signal.

To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention may beaccomplished by providing a copy error preventing method between a playunit and a recording unit, including: playing a signal recorded on afirst recording medium using the play unit; recording the signal onto asecond recording medium using the recording unit; detecting whether apredetermined copy preventing signal exists within the signal played bythe play unit; and stopping a recording operation of the recording unitwhen the copy preventing signal is detected within the played signal.

To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention may beaccomplished by providing a combo system, including: a play unit playingvideo and/or audio signals recorded on a first recording medium; arecording unit recording the video and/or audio signals on a secondrecording medium; a detector detecting a copy preventing signal from thevideo and/or audio signals played by the play unit, wherein the detectoroutputs the detected copy preventing signal to the recording unit tostop the recording unit from recording the video and/or audio signals onthe second recording medium; and an OSD block adding an OSD function tothe video signals of the recording unit and a detected copy preventingerror message.

To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention may beaccomplished by providing a copy error preventing method of a combosystem having a play unit and a recording unit, including: detecting acopy command by the recording unit; outputting a copy mode settingsignal from the recording unit to the play unit; playing data recordedon a first recording medium using the play unit in response to the copymode setting signal; recording the data onto a second recording mediumusing the recording unit; determining whether a copy preventing signalexists in the data recorded on the first recording medium; outputtingthe copy preventing signal to the recording unit; and stopping therecording unit from recording in response to the copy preventing signalwithout discontinuing playing the data recorded on the first recordingmedium.

These together with other objects and advantages, which will besubsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the invention, and many of the attendantadvantages thereof, will be readily apparent as the same becomes betterunderstood by reference to the following detailed description whenconsidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which likereference symbols indicate the same or similar components, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a conventional DVDP/VCRcombination system;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a DVDP/VCR combination system inaccordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a copy error preventing methodperformed by the system shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a DVDP/VCR combination system inaccordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A combination system and a copy error preventing method thereof, inaccordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, will nowbe described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram illustrating a combo system inaccordance with a first embodiment of the present invention,particularly a DVDP/VCR combo system 100 that can perform DVDP and VCRfunctions. The DVDP/VCR combo system 100 includes a VCR 110 to perform ageneral VCR function, a DVDP 120 to perform a general DVDP function, aselector 130 to select signals output from the VCR 110 and the DVDP 120,and an input block 140 to transmit signals input from an externaldevice, such as a camcorder to the selector 130. An output block 150transmits the signals output from the VCR 110 and the DVDP 120 toperipheral devices such as a TV and an amplifier. An on screen display(OSD) block 160 in the DVDP/VCR combo system 100 adds an OSD function tovideo signals output from the VCR 110 and the DVDP 120.

The VCR 110 includes a VCR deck 111 for recording a signal on a magnetictape or playing the signal recorded on the magnetic tape. Video andaudio blocks 112 and 113 in the VCR 110 transmit and receive video andaudio signals to be recorded or played to and from the VCR deck 111, anda VCR controller 114 controls an operation of the VCR deck 111, thevideo block 112, and the audio block 113. The VCR 110 further includes adisplay block 116 to externally display the status of the VCR 110 suchas operational, control, and setting modes, a panel 117 to input variouscommands from a user, and a remote controller sensor 118 to input acommand from the user through a remote controller 180.

The DVDP 120 includes a DVD deck 121, a DVD servo 122, a DVD controller123, and a DVD encoder 124. The DVD deck 121 reads data recorded on aDVD to perform a play mode of the DVD. The DVD servo 122 receives thedata read by the DVD deck 121 through the DVD controller 123, andoutputs DVD video data and DVD audio data. The DVD controller 123controls the operation of the DVD deck 121, the DVD servo 122, and theDVD encoder 124. The DVDP 120 further includes a macrovision detector126 for detecting a macrovision signal. The macrovision detector 126detects the macrovision signal from the data read by the DVD deck 121 ifthe DVD has a macrovision protection and is played or copied. Themacrovision detector 126 outputs the detected macrovision signal to theDVD controller 123. Then, the DVD controller 123 transmits the detectedmacrovision signal to the VCR controller 114.

The DVD controller 123 and the VCR controller 114, as will be describedlater in detail, are linked to each other in accordance with thedetected macrovision signal, so that signals for controlling the DVDP120 and the VCR 110 are generated. In the exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention, the VCR controller 114 and the DVD controller 123 maybe separately provided and the VCR controller 114 may be used as a maincontroller of the combo system 100. However, the present invention isnot limited to this embodiment. That is, the DVD controller 123 may bethe main controller of the DVDP/VCR combo system 100 or a menucontroller having both the functions of the VCR controller 114 and theDVD controller 123 may be used.

An output of the DVD encoder 124, outputs of the video and audio blocks112 and 113, and the signals from the input block 140 are input as inputsignals to a selector 130. The VCR controller 114 and the DVD controller123 control the selector 130 to select input signals. An output signalfrom the selector 130 is input to the OSD block 160 and the output block150. The OSD block 160 adds the OSD function to the signal input fromthe selector 130 and generates video images. Accordingly, the videoimages generated by the OSD block 160 are added to video images outputto a TV screen, such as a menu for controlling the operation of the DVDP120 and the VCR 110 and a macrovision error message.

The output block 150 receives the output signals from the DVD encoder124, the selector 130, and the OSD block 160 and outputs DVD videosignals, DVD audio signals, VCR video signals, and VCR audio signals.The peripheral devices such as the TV or audio devices are connected tothe output block 150 and, thus, video and audio images are output fromthe peripheral devices.

The input block 140 is connected to the selector 130, and transmits anexternally input signal to the selector 130. A signal output terminal ofthe external device, such as a camcorder, is connectable to the inputblock 140. Accordingly, the signal recorded on the external device canbe transmitted to the combo system 100 through the input block 140, andalso can be recorded on the magnetic tape using the VCR 110 or can beplayed through the TV or a monitor.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a copy error preventing methodperformed by the DVDP/VCR combo system 100. In more detail, FIG. 3 is aflow chart illustrating the copy error preventing method in which theuser copies data recorded on the DVD to the magnetic tape.

If a power source is applied to the combo system 100, the OSD block 160outputs a data processing menu and displays the same on the TV screen.If the user selects a copy mode from the data processing menu displayedon the TV screen by manipulating the remote controller 180, a copy modesetting signal is transmitted to the VCR controller 114 through theremote controller sensor 118. At operation S32, the VCR controller 123detects whether a copy command has been input.

Once the copy command is input, the VCR controller 114 outputs the copymode setting signal to the DVD controller 123. At operation S34, the DVDcontroller 123 operates the DVD deck 121 in accordance with the copymode setting signal to play the data recorded on the DVD and at the sametime operates the macrovision detector 126. Also, the VCR controller 114drives the VCR deck 111 so as to record the signal played by the DVDP120 on the magnetic tape.

In the above copy mode, at operation S36, the macrovision detector 126determines whether a macrovision signal exists in the data recorded onthe DVD. If it is determined that there is a macrovision signal in thedata recorded on the DVD, the DVD controller 123 outputs the macrovisionsignal to the VCR controller 114.

At operation S38, the VCR controller 114 stops driving of the VCR deck111 in accordance with the macrovision signal. At this time, the DVDP120 continues to play the data recorded on the DVD. Generally, the datarecorded on the DVD is copied to the magnetic tape when the datarecorded on the DVD is played. Accordingly, once a copy preventionsignal, such as a macrovision signal is detected, an unnecessary copyoperation can be avoided by stopping the VCR deck 111 from recordingdata on the magnetic tape. The playing operation by the DVDP 120continues to be performed, thereby providing the user with convenience.

At operation S40, the VCR controller 114 displays a copy error. The copyerror may be output from audio output terminals of the output block 150through the audio block 113. Also, the copy error may be output ascharacter or video signals generated in the OSD block 160 and thendisplayed on the TV screen. Also, the copy error may be output ascharacters or signs displayed through the display block 116. Further, ifthere is no macrovision signal, a normal copy operation is performed.

Additionally, in the case where the data is recorded on the magnetictape according to the user's request while the data is played from theDVD, all the operations to detect the macrovision signal are performedin a same manner as if the copy mode is selected. However, the operationto detect the macrovision signal is different from the operation of thecopy mode in that the DVD deck 121 is continuously driven to perform theplaying operation even if the macrovision signal is detected.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a DVDP/VCR combo system inaccordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. In thesecond embodiment of the present invention, like reference symbolsindicate the same or similar components shown in FIG. 2 and theirdetailed description will be omitted.

Unlike the first embodiment of FIG. 2 in which a macrovision detectingsignal is transmitted to the VCR controller 114 through the DVDcontroller 123, in the second embodiment of the present invention, theDVDP/VCR combo system 100 is provided with a macrovision detector 226directly connected between the VCR controller 114 and the DVD deck 121.Therefore, the macrovision signal detected by the macrovision detector226 is directly transmitted to the VCR controller 114. As a result,unlike the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2, one controller, controlsthe playing operation and the recording operation. In FIG. 2, theplaying operation is controlled by the DVD controller 123 and therecording operation is controlled by the VCR controller 114.

Furthermore, as another embodiment of the present invention, in additionto the combo system, a protocol established between a player, such asthe DVDP, and a recorder, such as the VCR, is set using a cable toperform communication, so that a copy error between the player and therecorder can be prevented from occurring. That is, in a state where theprotocol is set to mutually exchange the data and the control signalsbetween the DVDP, to play the data recorded on the DVD, and the VCR, torecord data on the magnetic tape, or to play the data recorded on themagnetic tape, a method of copying signals recorded on the DVD to themagnetic tape will be described below.

Generally, the DVDP includes the components of the DVDP 120 shown inFIG. 2. Specifically, the DVD controller 123 in the DVDP controls theoperation of the DVDP and exchanges control signals and data with theVCR, the DVD deck 121 plays the data recorded on the DVD under thecontrol of the DVD controller 123, and the macrovision detector 126detects a macrovision signal included in the played signal.

Also, a general VCR includes the components of the VCR 110 shown in FIG.2. Specifically, the VCR controller 114 in the VCR controls theoperation of the VCR and exchanges control signals and data with theDVDP, and the VCR deck 111 plays the data recorded on the magnetic tapeor records predetermined data on the magnetic tape under the control ofthe VCR controller 114. The VCR further includes the display block 116to externally display the status of the VCR such as operational,control, and setting modes, the panel 117 to input various commands fromthe user, and the remote controller sensor 118 to input the commandsfrom the user through a remote controller 180.

Therefore, if it is intended to copy the data recorded on the DVD on themagnetic tape using the individual DVDP and the individual VCR, the DVDPplays the data recorded on the DVD and detects the macrovision signalfrom the played signal. Then, the DVDP performs the playing operationwhile the VCR stops the recording operation. Thus, a copy error can beprevented from occurring by implementing the copy error preventingmethod of the combo system shown in FIG. 3. As described above, thecombo system and the copy error preventing method thereof according tothe present invention have, for instance, the following advantage: ifthe data recorded on the DVD having a copy preventing signal, such as amacrovision signal is copied onto the magnetic tape, unnecessary copyingoperation can be avoided and reliability in the operation of the combosystem can be improved.

While the present invention has been described and illustrated hereinwith reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparentto those skilled in the art that various modifications and variationscan be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers themodifications and variations of this invention that come within thescope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

1. An apparatus for a system comprising a playback unit to read datarecorded on a first recording medium and a recording unit to record thedata from the playback unit on a second recording medium, the apparatuscomprising: a detector to detect whether a predetermined copy preventingmechanism is provided for the data read by the playback unit; and acontroller to control the recording unit to stop a recording operationof the recording unit in response to the copy preventing mechanism beingdetected by the detector.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe recording unit is a VCR unit to record the data on a magnetic tape.3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the playback unit is aDVD playback unit to reproduce the data recorded on a DVD.
 4. Theapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a signal generator togenerate a warning signal indicating the detection of the copypreventing mechanism.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein thewarning signal is an audio signal.
 6. The apparatus according to claim4, wherein the signal generator comprises an on-screen display unit andthe warning signal is output as a character, sign, text, or video signalfor a display.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the copypreventing mechanism is a macrovision signal and the detector detectsthe macrovision signal from the data read by the playback unit.
 8. Theapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the system is a combo systemcomprising the playback unit and the recording unit integrated into thecombo system.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the combosystem further comprises a display unit to display a signal indicatingthe detection of the copy preventing mechanism.
 10. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein: the playback unit is an external devicewith respect to a device comprising the recording unit and theapparatus, or the recording unit is an external device with respect to adevice comprising the playback unit and the apparatus.
 11. The apparatusaccording to claim 10, wherein a protocol is established between theplayback unit and the recording unit using a cable to performcommunication.
 12. The apparatus according to claim 1, whereinreproduction of the data by the playback unit is uninterrupted by thestopping of the recording operation.
 13. The apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the data is a video and/or audio data.
 14. An apparatusfor a system comprising a playback unit to read video and/or audio datarecorded on a first recording medium and a recording unit to record thevideo and/or audio data from the playback unit on a second recordingmedium, the apparatus comprising: a detector to detect whether apredetermined copy preventing mechanism is provided for the video and/oraudio data read by the playback unit; and a signal generator to generatea warning signal indicating the detection of the copy preventingmechanism in response to a command requesting the recording unit torecord the video and/or audio data on the second recording medium. 15.The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a controller tocontrol the recording unit to stop a recording operation of therecording unit in response to the copy preventing mechanism beingdetected by the detector.
 16. The apparatus according to claim 15,wherein the copy preventing mechanism is a macrovision signal and thedetector detects the macrovision signal from the video and/or audio dataread by the playback unit.
 17. The apparatus according to claim 16,wherein the warning signal is an audio signal, and/or a character, sign,text, or video signal for a display.
 18. An apparatus for a combo systemcomprising or receiving a first recording medium having a video and/oraudio data recorded thereon and a second recording medium to record thevideo and/or audio data from the first recording medium, the apparatuscomprising: a detector to detect whether a predetermined copy preventingmechanism is provided for the video and/or audio data from the firstrecording medium of the combo system; and a controller to stop arecording operation to record the video and/or audio data on the secondrecording medium of the combo system in response to the copy preventingmechanism being detected by the detector.
 19. The apparatus according toclaim 18, further comprising a signal generator to generate a warningsignal indicating the detection of the copy preventing mechanism for thevideo and/or audio data.
 20. The apparatus according to claim 19,wherein the copy preventing mechanism is a macrovision signal and thedetector detects the macrovision signal from the video and/or audiodata.
 21. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the warningsignal is an audio signal, and/or a character, sign, text, or videosignal for a display.
 22. The apparatus according to claim 19, whereinthe first recording medium is an optical recording medium.
 23. Anapparatus for a combo system comprising or receiving a first recordingmedium having a video and/or audio data recorded thereon and a secondrecording medium to record the video and/or audio data from the firstrecording medium, the apparatus comprising: a detector to detect whethera predetermined copy preventing mechanism is provided for the videoand/or audio data from the first recording medium of the combo system;and a signal generator to generate a warning signal indicating thedetection of the copy preventing mechanism in response to a commandrequesting the video and/or audio data be recorded on the secondrecording medium.
 24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein thecopy preventing mechanism is a macrovision signal and the detectordetects the macrovision signal from the video and/or audio data.
 25. Asystem comprising: a playback unit to read video and/or audio datarecorded on a first recording medium; a recording unit to record thevideo and/or audio data from the first recording medium on a secondrecording medium; a detector to detect whether a predetermined copypreventing mechanism is provided for the video and/or audio data read bythe playback unit; and a controller to control the recording unit tostop a recording operation of the recording unit in response to the copypreventing mechanism being detected.
 26. The system according to claim25, further comprising a signal generator to generate a warning signalindicating the detection of the copy preventing mechanism.
 27. Thesystem according to claim 26, wherein the warning signal is an audiosignal.
 28. The system according to claim 26, wherein the signalgenerator comprises an on-screen display unit and the warning signal isoutput as a character, sign, text, or video signal for a display. 29.The system according to claim 28, wherein reproduction of the videoand/or audio data for the display by the playback unit is uninterruptedby the stopping of the recording operation, and the warning signal isadded to the video and/or audio data output to the display.
 30. Thesystem according to claim 26, further comprising a display unit todisplay the warning signal.
 31. The system according to claim 25,wherein the copy preventing mechanism is a macrovision signal and thedetector detects the macrovision signal from the video and/or audio dataread by the playback unit.
 32. The system according to claim 25,wherein: the playback unit is an external device with respect to adevice comprising the recording unit, the detector, and the controller,or the recording unit is an external device with respect to a devicecomprising the playback unit, the detector, and the controller.
 33. Thesystem according to claim 32, wherein a protocol is established betweenthe playback unit and the recording unit using a cable to performcommunication.
 34. The system according to claim 25, wherein the systemis a combo system comprising the playback unit, recording unit,detector, and controller integrated into the combo system.
 35. Thesystem according to claim 34, further comprising an input unit toreceive a video and/or audio data from an external device, wherein: thedetector detects whether a corresponding copy preventing mechanism isprovided for the video and/or audio data received from the externaldevice, and the controller controls the recording unit to stop arecording to record the video and/or audio data of the external deviceon the second recording medium in response to the corresponding copypreventing mechanism being detected.
 36. The system according to claim34, wherein: the controller comprises a playback unit controller tocontrol the playback unit and a recording unit controller to control therecording unit, and one of the playback and recording unit controllersis used as a main controller of the combo system.
 37. The systemaccording to claim 36, wherein the detector is connected between theplayback unit and the recording unit controller, and one of the playbackand recording unit controllers controls the reproduction and recordingof the video and/or audio data.
 38. The system according to claim 37,wherein the copy preventing mechanism is a macrovision signal and themacrovision signal from the detector is transmitted to the recordingunit controller.
 39. The system according to claim 36, wherein theplayback unit comprises the detector, the playback unit controllercontrols the reproduction of the video and/or audio data, and therecording unit controller controls the recording of the video and/oraudio data.
 40. The system according to claim 25, wherein the playbackunit is an optical recording medium playback unit.
 41. The systemaccording to claim 25, wherein the recording unit reproduces videoand/or audio data recorded on the second recording medium in response toa playback command.
 42. The system according to claim 25, wherein thedetector is enabled when video and/or audio data recorded on the secondrecording medium is reproduced.
 43. A system comprising: a playback unitto read video and/or audio data recorded on a first recording medium; arecording unit to record the video and/or audio data from the playbackunit on a second recording medium; a detector to detect whether apredetermined copy preventing mechanism is provided for the video and/oraudio data read by the playback unit; and a signal generator to generatea warning signal indicating the detection of the copy preventingmechanism in response to a command requesting the recording unit torecord the video and/or audio data on the second recording medium. 44.The system according to claim 43, further comprising a controller tocontrol the recording unit to stop a recording operation of therecording unit in response to the copy preventing mechanism beingdetected by the detector.
 45. The system according to claim 44, whereinthe copy preventing mechanism is a macrovision signal and the detectordetects the macrovision signal from the video and/or audio data read bythe playback unit.
 46. The system according to claim 45, wherein thewarning signal is an audio signal, and/or a character, sign, text, orvideo signal for a display.
 47. A combo system comprising: a detector todetect whether a predetermined copy preventing mechanism is provided forvideo and/or audio data from a first recording medium; and a controllerto stop a recording operation to record the video and/or audio data on asecond recording medium in response to the copy preventing mechanismbeing detected by the detector, wherein the combo system receiving orfurther comprising: the first recording medium having the video and/oraudio data recorded thereon, and the second recording medium to recordthe video and/or audio data from the first recording medium.
 48. Thecombo system according to claim 47, further comprising a signalgenerator to generate a warning signal indicating the detection of thecopy preventing mechanism for the video and/or audio data.
 49. The combosystem according to claim 48, wherein the copy preventing mechanism is amacrovision signal and the detector detects the macrovision signal fromthe video and/or audio data.
 50. The combo system according to claim 48,wherein the warning signal is an audio signal, and/or a character, sign,text, or video signal for a display.
 51. The combo system according toclaim 48, wherein the first recording medium is an optical recordingmedium.
 52. A combo system comprising: a detector to detect whether apredetermined copy preventing mechanism is provided for video and/oraudio data from a first recording medium; and a signal generator togenerate a warning signal indicating the detection of the copypreventing mechanism in response to a command requesting the videoand/or audio data be recorded on a second recording medium, wherein thecombo system receiving or further comprising: the first recording mediumhaving the video and/or audio data recorded thereon, and the secondrecording medium to record the video and/or audio data from the firstrecording medium.
 53. The combo system according to claim 52, whereinthe copy preventing mechanism is a macrovision signal and the detectordetects the macrovision signal from the video and/or audio data.